Lisa Mikitarian
Before we get started, I’d like to take a second and thank Cathy for letting sub-blog. I’ve found joy and learning in this “blog-o-sphere” I’ve entered.
As I’ve been looking at destiny over the last months, I’ve traced it back to some basic Christian teachings. I didn’t grow up in the church, so some of what follows may be elementary for you, but it’s the trail I needed to follow to find answers. If you think I missed the boat on something, please feel free to bring up the ferry.
What I love about blogging is that there’s a place for candidness.
The Truth About Destiny
Destiny in the Old and New Testaments
In the Old Testament we see many examples of individuals with a specific purpose— Moses, Sarah, Ruth. We see people who met God’s goals for them and those who missed their marks, too. Samson is a great example of the latter. In Judges, we read that he was given a divine calling to deliver Israel from the Philistines. He was to be raised a Nazarite—no wine, no women, no touching of anything dead, no cutting of hair. He was to be in the Lord’s service completely until death. For twenty years Samson followed obediently in his calling, could feel God’s spirit work in him. He brought hope to the people of Israel.
That working of God that Samson felt—have you felt it? When you know the urging in your soul is of Him? I feel it most often when dealing with a difficult or mean person. My flesh wants to judge, turn away, even inflict hurt. So many times an inkling of sorts, taps at me.
Reminds me a kind word can be like honey and turn a situation completely around. I also feel God’s Spirit when I’m at a crossroads. An inkling will nudge me in one of the directions. That inkling is the Holy Spirit moving within me.
I have a choice to follow God’s nudging or not. I have done both in my life. I have never regretted making the obedient choice—regardless of the outcome. I have, however, cried heavy, regretful tears at disobedience.
Well, back to Samson. There came a time when he was no longer obedient to his calling. He chased after women and when he went to see Delilah, he knew the chances he was taking. She cut his hair; he lost his strength. He was no longer set apart. In the end, he did not fulfill his destiny.In the Old Testament, God called individuals to particular ends. He also had an end for Israel—to be a holy nation—set apart. In the Old Testament, prophets and visions also helped take the guess work out of wondering what on earth (no pun intended) your destiny was.
Then God did something astounding, though it was in His plan from the beginning. He extended His vision beyond the Israelites to include all nations and all people. Destiny became collective. The question expanded beyond what is my destiny to what is the destiny of all mankind. That is the New Testament.
Our Destiny in Christ
That invitation for all mankind comes through Jesus Christ. He desires that man dwell with Him in heaven for eternity. That is man’s destiny. Those who accept the gift of salvation fulfill their destiny.
The apostle Paul reveals it to us in the book of Ephesians 1: 5-10 (ESV)
"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
We are to be taken into the fold, adopted by the Father. When we are His, the devil has no claim on us. The possibility of sin exists, but we are no longer a slave to it. Now we are to live for our Lord, blameless and holy, by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the future we will have glorified bodies and sin will no longer be an option.
The choice we make here is ratified in eternity.
In the next installment we’ll look at the collective destiny more closely. So much of my personal growth has taken place there. In the last two, we’ll explore what God has planned for us as individuals.
Thank you Lisa, and welcome to the blog-o-sphere, aka Bloggyland. :) Your comments about the collective destiny of the New Testament vs. the individual destinies of the Old Testament are making me go "hmmmm." I'm looking forward to more.
Be sure to check out Friday Fiction tomorrow, hosted this week by Sara Harricharan at
fictionfusion. Saturday, Lisa will be back with more about our destiny.
Thanks for coming by!
Love and hugs,
Cat
"God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes."
Psalm 18:24 (Msg)
